Use of Information Technology on Farms (PDF only), Australia, 2004-05 (8150.0) is expected to be released on Monday 28 August 2006.

The reissue corrects two typographical errors in the text of Chapter 2 of the PDF version of this publication. The error does not impact on any content other than the PDF of the publication.

NOTES

ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION

This publication presents statistics on the use of computers and the Internet on farms in Australia. The data were obtained from questions included in the 2004-05 Agricultural Survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Information obtained was in respect of the year ended 30 June 2005. Comparative data from the 2003-04 Agricultural Survey have also been included.

ABOUT THE SURVEY

The statistics in this publication relate to farms in scope of the 2004-05 Agricultural Survey, that is, farms with an estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO) of $5,000 or more. The 2004-05 survey consisted of a sample of approximately 30,500 farms (23% of all farms) operating in Australia at the end of June 2005.

FUTURE RELEASES

The ABS has decided to only include the questions on computer and Internet usage in the Agricultural Survey every five years. The next scheduled release is 2009-10 then every five years after that. This decision is subject to ongoing review.

OTHER ABS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STATISTICS

Details of other ABS activities in the field of information technology statistics are available from the Innovation, Science and Technology Statistics theme page on the ABS web site <http://www.abs.gov.au>. To access the theme page, select Themes from the menu on the home page and then Innovation, Science and Technology under the Industry heading. Details of other ABS publications relating to the use and production of information technologies in Australia can be found in paragraph 10 of the Explanatory notes.

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Tim Landrigan on Perth (08) 9360 5104.

SUMMARY COMMENTARY

AUSTRALIA

In 2004-05, 56% (72,828) of the 129,934 Australian farms with an estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO) of $5,000 or more used a computer as part of their business operations. This was an increase of 1 percentage point since 2003-04. During 2004-05 an estimated 53% (69,362) of farms in Australia used the Internet as part of their business operations, an increase of 6 percentage points from 2003-04.

REGIONAL DATA

In 2004-05 Western Australia recorded the highest proportion of farms using a computer for business operations (70%) and the highest proportion using the Internet for business operations (68%). Tasmania recorded both the lowest proportion of farms using a computer (52%) and the lowest proportion of farms using the Internet (48%).

Computer and Internet use on farms, By states and territories - 2004-05

INTERNET CONNECTION

12,287 Australian farms identified they used broadband to connect to the Internet for business operations, compared to 43,020 of Australian farms that identified they used dial-up. Satellite accounted for the highest level of broadband connection (5,694 farms), followed by DSL connection (4,381 farms).

INDUSTRY

Horticulture and fruit growing farms and Other crop growing farms showed the highest proportion of farms using a computer (62%). Horticulture and fruit growing farms also reported the highest proportion of farms using the internet (60%).

FARM SIZE

There was a strong relationship between farm size, as measured by the estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO), and the use of a computer and the Internet in 2004-05. As the graph below shows, the proportion of larger farms using a computer and the Internet for business purposes was higher than for smaller farms.